On 14 th July the FBE President Izabela Konopacka was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Portuguese Bar Association (the Ordem dos Advogados Portugueses) for the support the FBE has provided to the Ordem dos Advogados Portugueses in their struggle for the fundamental role of the legal profession in the administration of justice and for the Rule of Law in Portugal during the 9th Congress of Lawyers which took place over three days in Fátima, Portugal.

The Congress is the highest body of the Portuguese Bar Association, and under statutory terms, it is held every five years.

This year, under the central theme ‘For the Advocacy we want,’ and in a time of particular turmoil caused by the Portuguese Government’s proposal to amend the Law on Professional Orders, the Statute of the Bar Association, and the Law on Proper Acts, this Congress assumes exceptional relevance.

Also, among the priorities of the meeting was citizens’ access to law and their fundamental rights.

The speech by the FBE President was very well received by the delegates and may be accessed below.

On 19th of July Izabela Konopacka in her capacity as Federation Barreaux d’Europe President with Madam President Fernanda De Almeida Pinheiro and the Council Members of the Ordem dos Advogados Portugueses attended the debate at the Portuguese Parliament due to the vote on the Statute on Professional Associations.

The FBE will continue to support the Portuguese legal practice.